by JOHNSON CUMMINS

Pop Montreal is less then a week away and, I don’t mind admitting, I’m getting downright giddy about it. Although memories of previous Pop shindigs are a bit hazy (due to an overwhelming amount of shows over four days, too much beer, late-night gabbing at afterhours parties, no sleep and so forth), previous highlights like Mission of Burma knocking out one of the best shows I have ever seen at Cabaret, or perfectly timing my travels from the Dirtbombs show to see Black Mountain, will always be buried deep in my memory banks. Best of all, it also marks a time when music nerds like myself can finally meet up with others of our ilk.

Although Austin’s SXSW remains the fest to beat, based on the sheer magnitude of the programming, they’re unfortunately also saturated with corporate sponsorship, marketing-minded companies, too many industry-driven bands and conflicting schedules. Sadly, this seems to only get worse with each passing year. New York’s CMJ and Toronto’s CMW and NXNE are largely industry-based and, frankly, not much fun, and although I am looking forward to the Halifax Pop Explosion this month, it’s just too small to attract name acts and hence doesn’t offer much incentive for music fans to travel all the way out there. So that leaves us with one of the best festivals around, and wouldn’t ya know it, it’s happening right in our own backyard.

Between cab fares and beer prices, Pop Montreal can hit the pocketbook hard, so while you’re out at the shows this year, here’s a good hint on how to get industry folks to use their expense accounts on you. Hang around the bar and eavesdrop. If you find an industry type from Toronto (and you will, within five minutes), just tell them you’re from godspeed!—works every time!

If you need a ride from Zoobizarre to Café Campus, try this one out. There’s nothing industry people like more than to find out about “secret shows,” so they can validate their street-level hipness. So while these poor saps are filling up your pint glass, tell them that Ninja Tune and Alien8 are hosting an unannounced show with Panic at the Disco! at a place called the Midway on St-Laurent, below Ste-Catherine. Tell them this section is actually called “Mile End” and members of Coldplay are rumoured to be there, checking out the scene. Guaranteed, they’ll be flagging a cab toute suite and will gladly give you a free lift in exchange for this highly hip info. While you’re rocking your bad-ass self out to 3 Inches of Blood at Café Campus, Mr. David Geffen will be soon finding himself in a real panic at the disco.

Utilize these two tips, not only out of self-interest but also to help insure future Pop Montreals don’t turn into just another industry convention, and leave more elbow room for us—the music nerds.

SEE YA AT THE BAR… jonathan.cummins@gmail.com

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